Another offshore referendum stage complete

Turning to the referendum on offshore oil exploration; it has been given the official green light as the Office of the Governor General has informed Oceana in Belize that the secondary stage in a series of actions necessary to hold a vote on the issue has been completed. A little over eighteen thousand signatures were forwarded to the Chief Elections Officer on December ninth for scrutiny. The officer will supervise the examination of the signatures before informing the GG as to whether or not they are valid. Last Thursday during a press conference the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage, through its member agency Oceana, initiated the referendum process by submitting the accumulated signatures to the GG. A request has also been made for the referendum to be held simultaneously with the upcoming municipal elections on March seventh, 2012. The question to be posed in the referendum reads: “Do you agree to oil exploration and drilling offshore and in its protected areas?”

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3 Responses for “Another offshore referendum stage complete”

When will this referendum be called? During Town Council Election?. Villages do not vote at this time. For it to be a national referendum, villages will have to participate. If not , the referendum will be bogus, incomplete and a sham; certainly no victory for Matura and company.

Also, remember that the question on the referendum should be valid. Oceana is being unfair to us Belizeans. The question they are suggesting should be split in two; 1. Do you agree to drilling in off shore?; and 2. Do you agree to drilling in protected areas? I say so becuase, I for 1, agree to drilling in the offshore but not in out national parks… So how will I vote in the referendum if the question remains as is?